Supervisors Expand County Route 66 through Needles Area

(Apple Valley)–The Board of Supervisors today lent its support to the County’s Department of Public Health, Animal Care and Control Division’s Inaugural “The Homeward Bound – Mega Pet Adoption Event”.

The event will occur during Father’s Day weekend, June 16, and June 17, at Yucaipa Regional Park and event parking will be at the Jerry Lewis Soccer Complex, which is directly adjacent to the area within Yucaipa Regional Park where the event will occur.

The event will start at 10 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. and is free to the public. Participants will be able to adopt pets, receive free veterinarian assessments for the pet’s they adopt, and obtain wellness vaccines and microchips at low costs. Families will also be able to participate in other fun activities such as face painting, giant slide, and enjoy various food vendors.

“This event assists in meeting the health and social services needs of the County’s population and supports the Countywide Vision where all sectors work collaboratively to reach shared goals,” said Brian Cronin, Division Chief Animal Care and Control. “The event will do this by building new and expanding existing partnerships among public agencies, businesses, and non-profit and faith-based organizations.”

The Homeward Bound – Mega Pet Adoption Event is collaboration between San Bernardino County, the Humane Society of San Bernardino Valley (HSSBV), the Yucaipa Animal Placement Society (YAPS), the Animals aRe First Fund (ARFF), and the County Regional Parks Department.

In addition, the Animal Care and Control Division announced its participation in the American Society for the Prevention and Cruelty of Animals (ASPCA) Rachel Ray $100K Challenge.

This Challenge is an annual contest that inspires animal shelters to innovate and stretch to save more lives. Fifty competing shelters from across the country will work to save at least 300 more animals-during the months of August, September, and October 2012-than they did over the same three-month period in 2011. As a result of previous Challenges, participating agencies increased the number of lives saved by 7,362 in 2010, and 8,977 in 2011.

By competing in this event, ACC will raise the level of awareness in the community of the many available and adoptable animals locally, and has the potential to receive a grant of one hundred thousand dollars. If awarded, the monies granted will be used to assist the nonprofit rescues who are partnered with ACC in their efforts to place more animals in forever homes.

To become one of the fifty competing shelters, the agency will earn their spot by getting the most online votes. Individuals can vote once per day during the voting period. To vote for San Bernardino County, go to ACC’s website at www.sbcounty.gov/acc and follow the links, or go directly to www.votetosavelives.org/. Voting begins April 5th and will continue through April 16th. Tell your friends and family; get the word out, vote every day.

For more information about “The Homeward Bound – Mega Pet Adoption Event,” and the ASPCA Rachel Ray $100K Challenge, please call the San Bernardino County Animal Care & Control Program toll free at 1-800-472-5609 or visit www.sbcounty.gov/acc.